Manufacturing stories

Hobart-based advanced manufacturer, PFG Group, has broadened its sights after acquiring Kiel Industries in regional Victoria last year. This is a strategic move for the plastics specialist that told a leading manufacturing publication it wants to grow from a medium-sized to a large business. Company C.E.O. Michael Sylvester said: “The combination of PFG and Kiel merges two industry-leading capabilities - PFG’s polymer fabrication expertise and Kiel Industries’ exceptional rotational moulding skill.” The addition of Kiel enables PFG to expand its involvement in the transport, food-handling and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. “Through the Kiel Industries acquisition we are also making around 40% of the McDonalds’ playgrounds for Australia, NZ and the Pacific Islands, and we are a leading supplier of plastic pellets,” Sylvester adds. PFG is a leading supplier in the aquaculture and commercial marine sector, and exports its products, including the super-tough Aquatruck boats, around the world.

McCain Foods has announced it will invest $37 million upgrading its Smithton potato plant in North West Tasmania. This upgrade will see the site become the company’s primary retail French fry production facility in Australia and New Zealand. Work is expected to start in April and be completed by January next year. Potatoes are Tasmania’s highest value vegetable, worth $111 million at the farm gate and $345 million after processing, according to the latest AgriFood Scorecard. Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Guy Barnett said: “This multimillion dollar investment is a massive win for the Smithton community, and follows the addition of 17 new permanent jobs at the potato plant bringing its workforce to 95. A further 60 new jobs will be created during the construction phase, and $15 million will be injected into the Tasmanian economy in local trade and labour contracts.” He also calls it a significant vote of confidence in the Tasmanian agribusiness sector.

Incat’s latest catamaran is proving, once again, that Tasmania is a world leader when it comes to high speed craft. Saint John Paul II – which will soon begin service as a fast ferry in the Mediterranean – is the 89th vessel to roll off Incat’s Hobart production line, and the company’s 44th large commercial fast ferry. After completing extensive sea trials in January, Saint John Paul II left Tasmania on February 6, bound for Malta. The vessel has been custom designed for Virtu Ferries and will be the largest Ro-Pax catamaran on the Mediterranean, with a capacity for 900 passengers over two decks, and able to carry 167 cars. Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said: “The 110 metre wave piercing catamaran, one of the largest and most revolutionary built by the yard, is the first Incat newbuild vessel to join the Virtu fleet … Virtu Ferries was seeking increased reliability, sea keeping, passenger comfort, capacity and economy … we believe we have turned that vision into reality with Saint John Paul II.”

The Tasmanian Export Awards have just celebrated their 25th anniversary, and a local company that makes just one product – a fishing lure that has reached cult status across the globe – has been there from the very start.

A company that produces innovative protective shoes for horses' hooves – allowing them to forgo steel horse shoes – has been named the Telstra Tasmanian business of the year. Scoot Boots is a one-piece hoof boot that is both simple and light and aims to support a natural approach to horse care by promoting a barefoot way of caring for hooves. It is the brainchild of Dave MacDonald – who has been working with horses as a farrier and trainer for more than 30 years – who says: “Our Scoot Boots allow horses to virtually go barefoot, an option that is much more suitable to their overall health.” Scoot Boots, which is based at Acton Park near Hobart, is the only Australian manufacturer of protective equine hoof boots and now has more than 400 stockists worldwide.

The news that BAE Systems has won the contract to build nine Australian naval frigates in Adelaide is also a big win for Tasmania with a number of local advanced manufacturing companies in line as suppliers. Hobart-based Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) is the first to announce it has secured a contract with the British naval ship-builder. In a 10-year, $10 million deal, LSA will provide advanced Marine Evacuation Systems – liferafts and evacuation slides – for the Hunter Class global combat ships. LSA will most likely increase its full-time workforce, from 70 to 80 employees, as a result. Other Tasmanian companies are also primed to secure lucrative contracts with BAE Systems. These include naval interior fit-out specialists Taylor Brothers; fire-barrier manufacturer CBG Systems; and metal components company Direct Edge. Tasmania Maritime Network Chairman, Rob Miley, said: “The BAE announcement is great news for the state, as a number of Tasmanian advanced manufacturers have built-up strong relationships with the British naval ship-builder, and are likely to secure defence supply work as a result.” He added that “it is a natural development for our advanced manufacturing sector to move into the defence industry supply chain”. The Tasmanian Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries, Jeremy Rockliff pointed out, with LSA having secured the contract with BAE Systems, “it demonstrates to the broader global business community that the Tasmanian advanced manufacturing sector can deliver advanced products of high quality that are globally competitive for large-scale, high-value, defence contracts".

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